Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-01-22


were by a well-known London firm, most
excellent makers, but l do not know by
whom mine, which was not SO highly fin
ished was made. ] had used it on several
trips, and shot good many elephants with
il and it always proved most superior
weapon. thoroughly to be relied on.
seThree double tive-hundred expresses,
constructed to carry charge OF six drams,"
sweet weapons, and admirable for medium
sized game such as eland and sable ante
lope. or for men, especially in an open coun-
try and with the Semi-hOlloW bullet.
"One double No. IL central-tire Keepers
shotgun. full choke both barrels" This
gun proved of the greatest service to us at
terWard in shooting game for the pot.
sVThree Winchester repeating rifles (not
carbines), spare guns.
ssThree single-action Colts rev0lyers with
the heavier pattern of cartridge"
This was our total armament and the
reader will doubtless observe that the wea-
pOns of each class were Of the same make
and caIiber so that the cartridges were inter
changeable, a very important point. make
no apology for detailing it at length, 1Or
every experienced hunter will know now
vital proper supply of guns and ammunl-
tion is to the success Of an expedition.
Now, as to the men who were to go with
u.s. After much consultation we decided
that their number should be limited to five,
namely, driver, leader, and three sery-
ants.
The driver and leader got without much
difficulty, two Zulus, named respectively
Goza and Tom, but the servants were more
difficult matter. It was necessary that they
should be thoroughly trustworthy and brave
men, as in business of this sort our lives
/ might depend upon their conduct. At last |
secured two, one a HOttentOt called Vent
vogel (wind-bird), and one little Zulu
named Khiva who had the merit of speak
ing English perfectly. Ventyogel l had
known before; he was one of the most per
feet "spoorers' (game-trackers) ever had
, to do with, and tough as whipcord. he
never seemed to tire. But he had one fall-
! ing so common with his race, drink. Put
him within reach of bottle of grog and you
/ could not trust him. But as we were going
E beyond the region of gr0g-shops this little
/ weakness of his did not so much matter.
!: Having got these two men, looked In
: vain for a third to suit my purpose, so we
J determined to start without one, trusting to
+ luck to find a suitable man OH our way up
|.
/ we had fixed for our departure the Zulu
Khiya informed me that man was waiting
L II see me. Accordingly, when we had done
dinner for we were at table at the time, 1
! told him to bring him in. Presently very
tall, handsome-looking man, somewhere
, about thirty years of age and very light
/ colOred for a Zulu, entered, and, lifting his
, knob-stick by way of salute, squatted him
Il he Il &c hon
+ and sat silent. did not take any notice of
, him for awhile, for it is a great mistake to
do so. If you rush into conversation at
t once a Zulu is apt to think you person of
. little dignity or consideration. l observed,
however, that he was "Keshla" (ringed
! mani, that is, that he wore on his head the
I black ring, made of species OF gum polish
ed with fat and worked in with the hair,
usually assumed by Zulus on attaining a
certain age or dignity. Also it struck me
that his face was familiar to me.
"Well," l said at last what is your
name?'
"Umbopa," answered the man in a slow,
} deep voice.
Il have seen your face before"
, Eyes; the Inkoosi' (chieD saw my face
at the place of the Little Hand" QSandhl-
[ wana) ''the day before the battle"
Then l remembered. had been one of
, Lord Chelmsford's guides in that unlucky
Zulu war, and had had the good fortune to
leave the camp in charge of some wagons
the day before the battle. While had been
| waiting for the cattle to be inSpanned had
fallen into conversation with this man, who
| held some small command among the native
auxiliaries, and he had expressed to me
his doubts of the safety Of the camp. At
the time told him to hold his tongue, and
leave such matters to wiser heads; but after
} ward thought of his words.
Il remember" said; ''what is it you
[ wantp
, 1T is this, 'Macumazahn' (that is my Ka-
, fir name and means the man who gets up in
the middle of the night, or, in vulgar En-
t glish. he who keeps his eyes OPEN. l hear
that YOU go on a great expedition far into
the north with the white chiefs from over
/ the water. Is it a true wordY'
, ''It is"
II hear that you even go to Lukanga
! River, moons journey beyond the Manica
country. Is this so also, 'Macumazahn'Y"
"Why do you ask whittier we g09 What
is it TO thee?' answered, Suspici0usly, for
the objects of our journey had been kept q
dead secret
st is this, o white men! that if indeed
YOU travel so far would travel with you."
There was a certain assumption of dignity
! in the mans mode Of speech, and especially
in his use of the words 20 white menP' in
stead of 20 lnkoss" Chiefs, which struck
me.
} 'sYou forget yourself a little" l said.
} ssYour words come out unawares. That is
not the way to speak What is your name,
and where is your kraalY Tell us that we
! NAV know with whom we have to DEAL"
! my name is Umbopa. l am of the Zulu
people. yet not of them. The house of my
: tribe is in the far north; it was left behind
when the Zulus came down here thousand
years ago. long before Chaka reigned in
Zululand. have no kraal. have wan
dered for many years. came from the
north as a child to Zululand. l was Getty
wayo's man in the NkomabakOsi Regiment.
ran away from Zuuland and came to Ma
! tai because wanted to see the white mans
ways. Then l served against Cetywayo in
the war. Since then l have been working
, in Natal Now am tired, and would GO
north again. Here is not my place. l want
nb money hit am a brave man. and am